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Saturday, December 31, 2016

Recalling all
its previous resolutions and Presidential Statements on situation in
the Syrian Arab Republic, in particular 2254
(2015) and 2268
(2016), and the Geneva Communique of 30 June 2012,

Reaffirming its
strong commitment to the sovereignty, independence, unity and
territorial integrity of the Syrian Arab Republic, and to the
purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations,

Noting the
Joint Statement by the Ministers of Foreign Affairs of the Islamic
Republic of Iran, the Russian Federation and the Republic of Turkey
of December 20, 2016,

Noting
with appreciation the mediation efforts undertaken by the
Russian Federation and the Republic of Turkey to facilitate the
establishment of a ceasefire in the Syrian Arab Republic,

Reiterating its
call on the parties to allow humanitarian agencies rapid, safe and
unhindered access throughout Syria, as provided for in its relevant
resolutions,

Reiterating that
the only sustainable solution to the current crisis in the Syrian
Arab Republic is through an inclusive and Syrian-led political
process based on the Geneva Communiqué of 30 June 2012 as endorsed
by resolution 2118
(2013), its resolutions 2254
(2015) and 2268
(2016) and relevant statements of the International Syria
Support Group,

1. Welcomes
and support the
efforts by Russia and Turkey to end violence in Syria and jumpstart a
political process, and takes
note of
the document issued by Russia and Turkey in this regard
(S/2016/1133);

2. Stresses the
importance of the full implementation of all relevant Security
Council resolution, particularly 2254 (2015) and 2268 (2016);

3. Looks
forward to the meeting to be held in Astana, Kazakhstan,
between the Government of the Syrian Arab Republic and the
representatives of the opposition viewing it as an important part of
the Syrian-led political process and an important step ahead of the
resumption of negotiation under the auspices of the United Nations in
Geneva on 8 February 2017;

Tuesday, December 27, 2016

PP1.
Recalling
the Protocol for the Prohibition of the Use in War of Asphyxiating,
Poisonous or other Gases, and of Bacteriological Methods of Warfare,
and the Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production,
Stockpiling and Use of Chemical Weapons and on their Destruction
(CWC) ratified by the Syrian Arab Republic on 14 September 2013, and
the Council’s resolutions 1540 (2004), 2118 (2013), 2209 (2015),
and 2235 (2015), (from PP1, UNSCR 2209 but added reference to 2235)

PP2.
Reaffirming
its strong commitment to the sovereignty, independence and
territorial integrity of the Syrian Arab Republic, (PP2 UNSCR 2118)

PP3.
Condemning
again in the strongest terms any use of toxic chemicals as a weapon
in the Syrian Arab Republic, and reaffirming
that the use of chemical weapons constitutes a serious violation of
international law, (PP3 and 4, UNSCR 2235)

PP4.
Recalling
its determination to identify those parties in Syria responsible for
the use of any chemical weapons in the Syrian Arab Republic, and
recalling
also the establishment of the Organization for the Prohibition of
Chemical Weapons (OPCW) – United Nations Joint Investigative
Mechanism (JIM) to identify to the greatest extent feasible
individuals, entities, groups, or governments who were perpetrators,
organisers, sponsors or otherwise involved in the use of chemical
weapons, including chlorine or any other toxic chemical, in the
Syrian Arab Republic where the OPCW Fact-Finding Mission (FFM)
determines or has determined that a specific incident in the Syrian
Arab Republic involved or likely involved the use of chemicals as
weapons, (OP4 and 5, UNSCR 2235)

Friday, December 23, 2016

Samantha Power, United States Permanent Representative to the UN, addresses the Council after the vote.

Thank you, Mr. President.

Let me begin with a quote: “The United States will not support the use of any additional land for the purpose of settlements during the transitional period. Indeed, the immediate adoption of a settlement freeze by Israel, more than any other action, could create the confidence needed for wider participation in these talks. Further settlement activity is in no way necessary for the security of Israel and only diminishes the confidence of the Arabs that a final outcome can be freely and fairly negotiated.”

This was said in 1982 by President Ronald Reagan. He was speaking about a new proposal that he was launching to end the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. While ultimately, of course, President Reagan’s proposal was not realized, his words are still illuminating in at least two respects.

First, because they underscore the United States’ deep and long-standing commitment to achieving a comprehensive and lasting peace between the Israelis and Palestinians. That has been the policy of every administration, Republican and Democrat, since before President Reagan and all the way through to the present day.

Second, because President Reagan’s words highlight the United States’ long-standing position that Israeli settlement activity in territories occupied in 1967 undermines Israel’s security, harms the viability of a negotiated two-state outcome, and erodes prospects for peace and stability in the region. Today, the Security Council reaffirmed its established consensus that settlements have no legal validity. The United States has been sending the message that the settlements must stop – privately and publicly – for nearly five decades, through the administrations of Presidents Lyndon B. Johnson, Richard Nixon, Gerald Ford, Jimmy Carter, Ronald Reagan, George H.W. Bush, Bill Clinton, George W. Bush, and now Barack Obama. Indeed, since 1967, the only president who had not had at least one Israeli-Palestinian-related Security Council resolution pass during his tenure is Barack Obama. So our vote today is fully in line with the bipartisan history of how American Presidents have approached both the issue – and the role of this body.

Guided
by the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations,
and reaffirming, inter
alia,
the inadmissibility of the acquisition of territory by force,

Reaffirming
the obligation of Israel, the occupying Power, to abide scrupulously
by its legal obligations and responsibilities under the Fourth Geneva
Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of
War, of 12 August 1949, and recalling
the advisory opinion rendered on 9 July 2004 by the International
Court of Justice,

Condemning
all measures aimed at altering the demographic composition, character
and status of the Palestinian Territory occupied since 1967,
including East Jerusalem, including, inter
alia,
the construction and expansion of settlements, transfer of Israeli
settlers, confiscation of land, demolition of homes and displacement
of Palestinian civilians, in violation of international humanitarian
law and relevant resolutions,

Expressing
graveconcern
that continuing Israeli settlement activities are dangerously
imperilling the viability of the two-State solution based on the 1967
lines,

Recalling
the obligation under the Quartet Roadmap, endorsed by its resolution
1515 (2003), for a freeze by Israel of all settlement activity,
including “natural growth”, and the dismantlement of all
settlement outposts erected since March 2001,

Recalling
also the obligation under the Quartet roadmap for the Palestinian
Authority Security Forces to maintain effective operations aimed at
confronting all those engaged in terror and dismantling terrorist
capabilities, including the confiscation of illegal weapons,

Condemning
all acts of violence against civilians, including acts of terror, as
well as all acts of provocation, incitement and destruction,

Reiterating
its vision of a region where two democratic States, Israel and
Palestine, live side by side in peace within secure and recognized
borders,

Stressing
that the status quo is not sustainable and that significant steps,
consistent with the transition contemplated by prior agreements, are
urgently needed in order to (i) stabilize the situation and to
reverse negative trends on the ground, which are steadily eroding the
two-State solution and entrenching a one-State reality, and (ii) to
create the conditions for successful final status negotiations and
for advancing the two-State solution through those negotiations and
on the ground,

Reaffirms
that the establishment by Israel of settlements in the Palestinian
territory occupied since 1967, including East Jerusalem, has no
legal validity and constitutes a flagrant violation under
international law and a major obstacle to the achievement of the
two-State solution and a just, lasting and comprehensive peace;

Reiterates
its demand that Israel immediately and completely cease all
settlement activities in the occupied Palestinian territory,
including East Jerusalem, and that it fully respect all of its legal
obligations in this regard;

Underlines
that it will not recognize any changes to the 4 June 1967 lines,
including with regard to Jerusalem, other than those agreed by the
parties through negotiations;

Stresses
that the cessation of all Israeli settlement activities is essential
for salvaging the two-State solution, and calls for affirmative
steps to be taken immediately to reverse the negative trends on the
ground that are imperilling the two-State solution;

Calls
upon all States, bearing in mind paragraph 1 of this resolution, to
distinguish,
in
their relevant dealings, between the territory of the State of
Israel and the territories occupied since 1967;

Calls
for
immediate steps to prevent all
acts of violence against civilians, including acts of terror, as
well as all acts of provocation and destruction, calls for
accountability in this regard, and calls for compliance with
obligations under international law for the strengthening of ongoing
efforts to combat terrorism, including through existing security
coordination, and to clearly condemn all acts of terrorism;

Calls
upon
both parties to act on the basis of international law, including
international humanitarian law, and their previous agreements and
obligations, to observe calm and restraint, and to refrain from
provocative actions, incitement and inflammatory rhetoric, with the
aim, inter
alia,
of de-escalating the situation on the ground, rebuilding trust and
confidence, demonstrating through policies and actions a genuine
commitment to the two-State solution, and creating the conditions
necessary for promoting peace;

Calls
upon
all parties to continue, in the interest of the promotion of peace
and security, to exert collective efforts to launch credible
negotiations on all final status issues in the Middle East peace
process and within the time frame specified by the Quartet in its
statement of 21 September 2010;

Urges
in this regard
the intensification and acceleration of international and regional
diplomatic efforts and support aimed at achieving, without delay a
comprehensive, just and lasting peace in the Middle East on the
basis of the relevant United Nations resolutions, the Madrid terms
of reference, including the principle of land for peace, the Arab
Peace Initiative and the Quartet Roadmap and an end to the Israeli
occupation that began in 1967; and underscores
in this regard the importance of the ongoing efforts to advance the
Arab Peace Initiative, the initiative of France for the convening of
an international peace conference, the recent efforts of the
Quartet, as well as the efforts of Egypt and the Russian Federation;

Confirms
its determination
to support the parties throughout the negotiations and in the
implementation of an agreement;

Reaffirms
its determination to examine practical ways and means to secure the
full implementation of its relevant resolutions;

Requests
the Secretary-General to report to the Council every three months on
the implementation of the provisions of the present resolution;

Monday, December 19, 2016

Christian Wenaweser, Ambassador of Liechtenstein,addresses the General Assembly

International,
Impartial and Independent Mechanism to assist in the Investigation
and Prosecution of those Responsible for the Most Serious Crimes
under International Law committed in the Syrian Arab Republic since
March 2011

The
General Assembly PP1 Guided by the Charter of the
United Nations, PP2 Reaffirming its commitment to the
sovereignty of the Syrian Arab Republic,

PP3 Recalling the
relevant resolutions of the General Assembly, the Security Council
and the Human Rights Council, in particular Human Rights Council
resolution S-17/1 that established the Independent International
Commission of Inquiry on the Syrian Arab Republic,

PP4 Welcoming the
ongoing work carried out by the Independent International Commission
of Inquiry on the Syrian Arab Republic and recalling its reports1 and
the recommendations contained therein,

PP5 Expressing its
appreciation for the work carried out by the Organization for the
Prohibition of Chemical Weapons-United Nations Joint Investigative
Mechanism and recalling its reports2 and the conclusions
contained therein,

PP6 Recognizing the
work of Syrian and international civil society actors in documenting
violations of international humanitarian law and violations and
abuses of human rights law in the Syrian Arab Republic during the
conflict,

PP7 Noting
with concern the impunity for serious violations of
international humanitarian law and violations and abuses of human
rights law committed during the conflict, in the Syrian Arab Republic
which has provided a fertile ground for further violations and
abuses,

PP8 Recalling the
statements made by the Secretary-General, the United Nations High
Commissioner for Human Rights and the special procedures of the Human
Rights Council that crimes against humanity and war crimes are likely
to have been committed in the Syrian Arab Republic,

PP9 Noting the
repeated encouragement by the Secretary-General and the High
Commissioner for Human Rights for the Security Council to refer the
situation in the Syrian Arab Republic to the International Criminal
Court,

1.
Emphasizes the need to ensure accountability for crimes
involving violations of international law, in particular of
international humanitarian law and international human rights law,
some of which may constitute war crimes or crimes against humanity,
committed in the Syrian Arab Republic since March 2011, through
appropriate, fair and independent investigations and prosecutions at
the domestic or international level, and stresses the need
to pursue practical steps towards this goal to ensure justice for all
victims and contribute to the prevention of future violations;

2. Stresses the
need for any political process aimed at resolving the crisis in the
Syrian Arab Republic to ensure credible and comprehensive
accountability for the most serious crimes committed in the country
to bring about reconciliation and sustainable peace;

3. Welcomes the
efforts by States to investigate and prosecute crimes within their
jurisdiction committed in the Syrian Arab Republic, in accordance
with their national legislation and international law,
and encourages other States to consider doing the same and
to share relevant information to this end with other States;

4. Decides to
establish an “International, Impartial and Independent Mechanism to
assist in the Investigation and Prosecution of those Responsible for
the Most Serious Crimes under International Law committed in the
Syrian Arab Republic since March 2011” under the auspices of
the United Nations to collect, consolidate, preserve and analyse
evidence of such crimes and prepare files in order to facilitate and
expedite fair and independent criminal proceedings in accordance with
international standards, in national, regional or international
courts or tribunals that have or may in the future have jurisdiction
over these crimes;

5. Requests the
Secretary-General, in this regard, within 20 working days of the
adoption of this resolution, to develop Terms of Reference of the
International, Impartial and Independent Mechanism with the support
of OHCHR, and requests further that the Secretary-General
undertakes without delay the steps, measures and arrangements
necessary for the speedy establishment and full functioning of the
Impartial and Independent Mechanism, initially funded by voluntary
contributions, in coordination with the Independent International
Commission of Inquiry on the Syrian Arab Republic and building on
existing capacities, including recruiting or allocating impartial and
experienced staff with relevant skills and expertise in accordance
with the Terms of Reference;

6. Calls
upon all States, all parties to the conflict as well as civil
society to cooperate fully with the International, Impartial and
Independent Mechanism to effectively fulfill its mandate, and in
particular to provide it with any information and documentation they
may possess pertaining to the above-mentioned crimes as well as any
other forms of assistance;

7. Requests the
United Nations system as a whole to fully cooperate with the
International, Impartial and Independent Mechanism and to promptly
respond to any request, including access to all information and
documentation, and decides that the Mechanism closely
cooperate with the Independent International Commission of Inquiry on
the Syrian Arab Republic in all aspects of its work;

8. Requests the
Secretary-General to report on the implementation of the present
resolution within 45 days of its adoption and decides to
revisit the question of funding of the International, Impartial and
Independent Mechanism as soon as possible.

Reaffirming
its
strong commitment to the sovereignty, independence, unity and
territorial integrity of the Syrian Arab Republic;

Alarmed
by the continued deterioration of the devastating humanitarian
situation in Aleppo and by the fact that urgent humanitarian
evacuations and assistance are now needed by a large number of Aleppo
inhabitants;

Recalling
the
need for all parties to respect the relevant provisions of
international humanitarian law and the United Nations guiding
principles of humanitarian emergency assistance;

1. Takes
note of
the efforts to carry out evacuations of civilians and fighters from
the districts of the city of Aleppo affected by the conflict;

2. Stresses
that
these evacuations must be conducted in accordance with international
humanitarian law and principles and emphasizes
that the evacuations of civilians must be voluntary and to final
destinations of their choice, and protection must be provided to all
civilians who choose or who have been forced to be evacuated and
those who opt to remain in their homes;

3.
Requests the
United Nations and other relevant institutions to carry out adequate,
neutral monitoring and direct observation and to report, as
appropriate, on evacuations from eastern districts of Aleppo and
other districts of the city, to ensure further deployment of staff
for these purposes as needed and demands
all parties to provide these monitors with safe, immediate and
unimpeded access;

4. Stresses
the importance to ensure the voluntary, safe and dignified passage of
all civilians from eastern districts of Aleppo or other areas, under
the monitoring of and coordination by the United Nations and other
relevant institutions, to a destination of their choice; stresses
that in such circumstances, priority should be given to the most
seriously wounded people and the most vulnerable and calls on all the
parties to cooperate with the United Nations in this regard;

5. Demands
that
all parties allow complete, immediate, unconditional, safe and
unhindered access for the United Nations and its implementing
partners, in order to ensure that humanitarian assistance reaches
people through the most direct route in order to meet basic needs,
including the provision of medical care, consistent with the
provisions of its resolution 2258 (2015) for the whole of Syria and
respect and protect all civilians across Aleppo and throughout Syria;
stresses
that all parties must respect their obligations under international
humanitarian law and, in particular, to respect and protect civilians
and civilian objects;

6 Calls
on
all parties to respect and protect all medical and humanitarian
personnel, their means of transport and equipment, as well as
hospitals and other medical facilities throughout the country,
consistent with its resolution 2286 (2016);

7. Requests
the Secretary General to take urgent steps to make arrangements,
including security arrangements, to allow the observation by the
United Nations and other relevant institutions of the well-being of
civilians, as well as the full respect of international humanitarian
law, inside eastern districts of the city of Aleppo; notify the
Security Council about these arrangements and to carry out the above
mentioned activity immediately thereupon,

8. Further
requests
the Secretary General to report to the Security Council on the
implementation of this resolution, including by the parties on the
ground, within 5 days of adoption of this resolution;

PP2:
Reaffirming
its strong commitment to the sovereignty, independence, unity and
territorial integrity of the Syrian Arab Republic,

PP3:
Recalling the
need for all parties to respect the relevant provisions of
international humanitarian law and the United Nations guiding
principles of humanitarian emergency assistance,

PP4:Alarmed
by the continued deterioration of the devastating humanitarian
situation in Aleppo and by the fact that urgent humanitarian
evacuations and assistance are now needed by Aleppo inhabitants in
vulnerable situation,

Takes
note
of the efforts to carry out evacuations of civilians and fighters
from the districts of the city of Aleppo affected by the conflict;

Stresses
that these evacuations must be conducted in accordance with
international humanitarian law and principles and emphasizes
that the evacuations of civilians must be voluntary and to final
destinations of their choice, and protection must be provided to all
civilians who choose or who have been forced to be evacuated and
those who opt to remain in their homes;

Stresses
the importance to ensure the voluntary, safe and dignified passage
of all civilians of parts of Aleppo affected by the conflict, under
the monitoring of and coordination by the United Nations, to a
destination of their choice; stresses
that in such circumstances, priority should be given to the most
seriously wounded people and the most vulnerable;

Demands
that
all parties allow complete, immediate, unconditional, safe and
unhindered access for the United Nations and its implementing
partners, in order to ensure that humanitarian assistance reaches
people through the most direct route in order to meet basic needs,
including the provision of medical care, consistent with the
provisions of its resolution 2258 (2015) for the whole of Syria and
respect and protect all civilians in Aleppo, and throughout Syria;
stresses
that all parties must respect their obligations under international
humanitarian law and, in particular, to respect and protect
civilians and civilian objects;

Calls
on
all parties to respect and protect all medical and humanitarian
personnel and facilities, their means of transport and equipment,
throughout the country, consistent with its resolution 2286 (2016);

Requests
the Secretary General to provide arrangements, including security
arrangements, in coordination with the interested parties, to allow
the United Nations personnel to monitor the condition of civilians
remaining in Aleppo in light of international humanitarian law;

Requests
the Secretary General to report to the Security Council on the
implementation of this resolution, within (5) days of its adoption;

PP2:
Reaffirming its strong commitment to the sovereignty, independence,
unity and territorial integrity of the Syrian Arab Republic;

PP3:
Alarmed by the continued deterioration of the devastating
humanitarian situation in Aleppo and by the fact that urgent
humanitarian evacuations and assistance are now needed by tens of
thousands of besieged Aleppo inhabitants;

Takes
note
of the efforts to carry out evacuations of civilians and opposition
fighters from the besieged districts of the city of Aleppo;

Stresses
that these evacuations must be conducted in accordance with
international humanitarian law and principles and emphasizes
that the evacuations of civilians must be voluntary and to final
destinations of their choice, and protection must be provided to all
civilians who choose or who have been forced to be evacuated and
those who opt to remain in their homes;

Stresses
the importance to ensure the voluntary, safe and dignified passage
of all civilians of besieged parts of Aleppo or other areas, under
the monitoring of and coordination by the United Nations and its
partners, to a destination of their choice; stresses
that in such circumstances, priority should be given to the most
seriously wounded people and the most vulnerable;

Demands
that
all parties allow complete, immediate, unconditional, safe and
unhindered access for the United Nations and its implementing
partners, in order to ensure that humanitarian assistance reaches
people through the most direct route in order to meet basic needs,
including the provision of medical care, consistent with the
provisions of its resolution 2258 (2015) for the whole of Syria and
respect and protect all civilians in besieged parts of Aleppo, and
throughout Syria; stresses
that all parties must respect their obligations under international
humanitarian law and, in particular, to respect and protect
civilians and civilian objects;

Calls
on
all parties to respect and protect all medical and humanitarian
personnel, their means of transport and equipment, as well as
hospitals and other medical facilities throughout the country,
consistent with its resolution 2286 (2016);

Requests
the Secretary General as a first step immediately to redeploy the
United Nations humanitarian staff already on the ground to carry out
adequate, neutral monitoring, direct observation and to report on
evacuations from besieged parts of Aleppo, to ensure further
deployment of staff for these purposes as needed and demands
all
parties to provide these monitors with safe, immediate and unimpeded
access;

Requests
the
Secretary General to take urgent steps for the observation by the
United Nations and its implementing partners of the well-being of
civilians, as well as the full respect of international humanitarian
law inside Aleppo, and to make necessary arrangements to that effect
;

Further
requests
the Secretary General to report to the Security Council on the
implementation of this resolution, including whether access has been
granted and on the basis of the reports of the monitors described in
OP 6, within 5 days of adoption of this resolution;

Thursday, December 8, 2016

PP
1: Guided by its
strong commitment to the principles and purposes of the
Charter of the United Nations,

PP1bis:Reaffirming its
strong commitment to the sovereignty, independence, unity and
territorial integrity of the Syrian Arab Republic,

PP
2:Recalling its
resolutions 66/176 of 19 December 2011, 66/253A of 16 February, 2012,
66/253B of 3 August 2012, 67/183 of 20 December 2012, 67/262 of
15 May 2013, 68/182 of 18 December 2013, 69/189 of 18 December 2014,
70/234 of 23 December 2015, as well as Human Rights Council
Resolutions S-16/1 of 29 April 2011, S-17/1 of 23 August 2011, S-18/1
of 2 December 2011, 19/1 of 1 March 2012, 19/22 of 23 March 2012,
S-19/1 of 1 June 2012, 20/22 of 6 July 2012, 22/24 of 22 March 2013,
23/1 of 29 May 2013, 23/26 of 14 June 2013, 24/22 of 27 September
2013, 25/23 of 28 March 2014, 31/17 of 23 March 2016, 32/25 of 1 July
2016, and 33/23 of 30 September 2016, S-25/1 of 25 October 2016;

PP
3: Recalling also
Security Council Resolutions 2042 (2012) of 14 April 2012, 2043
(2012) of 21 April 2012, 2118 (2013) of 27 September 2013, 2139
(2014) of 22 February 2014, 2165 (2014) of 14 July 2014, 2175 (2014)
of 29 August 2014, 2191 (2014) of 17 December 2014, 2209 (2015) of 6
March 2015, 2235 (2015) of 7 August 2015, 2254 (2015) of 18 December
2015, 2258 (2015) of 22 December 2015, 2268 (2016) of 26 February
2016, 2286 (2016) of 3 May 2016 and 2314 (2016) of 31
October 2016, and expressing outrage
that these resolutions have not been fully implemented,

PP3bis:
Recalling that,
amid expressions of popular discontent over restrictions on the
enjoyment of civil, political, economic and social rights, civilian
protests erupted in Dar ’a in March 2011, and noting that the
excessive and violent oppression of civilian protests by the Syrian
authorities, which later escalated to the direct shelling of civilian
population areas, fuelled the escalation of armed violence and
extremist groups, including so-called ISIL (also known as Da’esh),

PP
4: Expressing outrage at the
escalation of violence in the Syrian Arab Republic, and in
particular in Aleppo, and the extensive and
persistent violations of international humanitarian law
and violations and abuses of international human
rights law, including those involving the indiscriminate
killing and deliberate targeting of civilians and civilian
infrastructure,notably through shelling and aerial
bombardments, the use of chemical weapons, as concluded by the
Joint Investigative Mechanism, and other prohibited weapons, and
the use of siege and starvation of civilians as a method of
warfare, which havecaused profound suffering and loss
of life, have created conditions conducive to the rise and
spread of terrorism and violent extremism conducive to terrorism, and
have caused an exodus of Syrian refugees,

PP4bis:
Recalling the
primary responsibility of the Syrian Arab Republic to protect its
population, and condemning the repeated disregard of the purpose and
principles of the United Nations Charter, and violations of
international humanitarian law and of international human rights law,
throughout the conflict in Syria, and also recalling the need for all
parties to the conflict to fully comply with their obligations under
international law, in particular the United Nations Charter,
international humanitarian law and international human rights law,
and expressing deep concern with the lack of compliance with these
obligations,

PP4ter:
Expressing alarm
at the failure to implement relevant Security Council and General
Assembly resolutions and the continued disregard for international
humanitarian law and international human rights law, as well as
expressing alarm that the Security Council’s responsibility to
ensure prompt and effective action has not been further discharged in
regards to Syria;

PP5: Expressing grave
concern at the continued deterioration of the devastating
humanitarian situation in Syria, and the fact that now more than 13.5
million people are in need of humanitarian assistance in
Syria, expressing grave
concern at the increasing number of refugees and internally displaced
persons caused by the conflict in Syria, including
the nearly6.3 million people whoare internally
displaced in addition to the half a million Palestinian
refugees in Syria, expressing the gravest concern at
the destabilizing effect of the crisis on the region, underlining
the extreme urgency of finding a political solution, andreiterating
its appreciation for the significant and admirable efforts that have
been made by the countries of the region, notably Lebanon, Jordan,
Turkey, Iraq and Egypt, to accommodate the more
than 4.8million registered refugees who have fled
Syria as a result of the ongoing violence,

PP6: Expressing further
grave concern at the dire situation of the civilian population, in
particular of the 974,080 people trapped in besieged areas, as well
as the dire situation of nearly 3.9 million people in hard-to-reach
areas,

PP8:
Strongly condemningand
deploring all acts
of violence, attacks and threats against the wounded and sick,
medical personnel and humanitarian personnel exclusively engaged in
medical duties, their means of transport, equipment and supplies, as
well as hospitals and other medical facilities, and deploring the
long-term consequences of such attacks for the civilian population
and the healthcare system of Syria,

PP8bis:
Strongly alarmed that
attacks against schools, school children and teachers are
commonplace, risking losing a generation as a result of over 2
million out-of-school children and adolescents and one in three
schools being damaged, destroyed or occupied,

PP
9: Deeply concerned by the situation of
vulnerable persons, including women and children, who are subjected
to discrimination, sexual and gender-based violence, abduction,
physical abuse, and violation of their privacy and arbitrary
arrest and detention, deploring all violations against children
including the recruitment and use of children and condemning the use
by the Syrian authorities and all other parties of enforced
disappearances, extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions
and torture,

PP10: Recalling the
Report of the Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the
Syrian Arab Republic of 11 August 2016 which reiterates key
recommendations calling for all parties to inter alia restore
and revitalize the cessation of hostilities, minimize civilian
casualties and end indiscriminate attacks, allow rapid, safe,
sustained, unhindered and unconditional access for humanitarian
aid and end all sieges immediately,

PP11:Deeply
concerned by the presence of terrorist organizations in Syria
and the spread of violent extremism conducive to terrorism, strongly
condemning all terrorist attacks, abuses of human rights and
violations of international humanitarian law carried out by so-called
ISIL (also known as Da’esh), Al-Nusra Front
(ANF), and all other individuals, groups, undertakings and
entities associated with Al Qaeda or ISIL (also known as Da’esh),
and other terrorist groups, as designated by the Security
Council, and reiterating the call on all parties to commit to
putting an end to terrorist acts perpetrated by such organizations
and individuals, while reaffirming that terrorism in all its
forms constitutes one of the most serious threats to international
peace and security, and that any acts of terrorism are unjustifiable,
regardless of their motivation, wherever, whenever, and by whomsoever
committed,

PP12:Recalling the
importance of the principles of distinction and proportionality,
which inter alia refer to the obligation under international
humanitarian law to distinguish between civilian populations and
combatants, and the prohibition against indiscriminate attacks, and
the obligations to do everything feasible to verify that the objects
to be attacked are neither civilians nor civilian objects and are not
subject to special protection, and recalling further the obligation
to take all other feasible precautions with a view to
avoiding and in any event minimizing harm to civilians and civilian
objects including schools, water, medical facilities as such and
all other objects indispensable to the survival of the civilian
population,

PP13:
Deeply disturbed by the continued denial of access to
urgently needed humanitarian relief , particularly the
denial of authorization by the Syrian regime, and the persistent lack
of security, lack of freedom of movement and the presence of any
other conditions that impede the delivery of humanitarian
assistance and supplies, as assessed and provided by the
United Nations, its implementing partners and all other humanitarian
actors, to destinations within Syria, including to besieged
and hard-to-reach areas, and stressing the need to strengthen a
gender perspective in all humanitarian efforts,

PP14: Recalling that
all Syrian parties to the conflict shall enable
the immediate and unhindered delivery of humanitarian assistance and
stressing that the arbitrary denial of humanitarian access, depriving
civilians of objects and assistance indispensable to their survival,
including wilfully impeding relief supplies such as food aid and
life-saving medical supplies, and the use of starvation as a method
of warfare can constitute a war crime,

PP15:Stressing the
need to end impunity for serious violations of international
humanitarian law and for violations and abuses of international human
rights law in Syria, some of which may constitute war crimes or
crimes against humanity, and reemphasizing the need for all those
responsible to be held accountable;

PP16:
Emphasizing that the humanitarian situation will
continue to deteriorate further in the absence of a political
solution, and reiterating that the only sustainable
solution to the current crisis in Syria is through an inclusive and
Syrian-led political process that meets the legitimate aspirations of
the Syrian people,

PP17: Reiterating its
determination to seek ways and means to protect the Syrian
civilian population and persons hors de combat,

1. Demands an
immediate and complete end to all attacks on civilians and civilian
objects indispensable to the survival of the civilian population, as
well as an immediate end to all sieges in Syria, including in Aleppo,

2. Further
demands the immediate cessation of hostilities, as
described in Security Council resolution 2268 (2016), as
well as rapid, safe, sustained, unhindered and
unconditional humanitarian access throughout Syria by the
United Nations and its specialized agencies, and all
humanitarian actors,

3. Demands that
all parties to the Syrian conflict immediately comply with their
obligations under applicable international law, including
international humanitarian law and international human rights law,
including with respect to all besieged and hard-to-reach areas inside
Syria;

3bis. Also
demands that all parties take all appropriate steps to
protect civilians and persons hors de combat, including members of
ethnic, religious and confessional communities, and stresses that, in
this regard, the primary responsibility to protect its population
lies with the Syrian authorities,

4. Further
demands that all parties to the conflict fully and
immediately implement all the provisions of Security Council
resolutions 2139 (2014), 2165 (2014), 2191 (2014), 2199 (2015), 2209
(2015),2254 (2015), 2258 (2015), and 2268 (2016); and 2286
(2016);

5. Highlights its
demand for the full and immediate implementation of Security Council
resolution 2254 (2015),which inter alia reiterates that the only
sustainable solution to the current crisis in Syria is through an
inclusive and Syrian-led political process that meets the legitimate
aspirations of the Syrian people, with a view to full implementation
of the Geneva Communiqué of 30 June 2012 as endorsed by resolution
2118 (2013), including through the establishment of an inclusive
transitional governing body with full executive powers, which shall
be formed on the basis of mutual consent while ensuring continuity of
governmental institutions,

6. Reaffirms its
support for a credible, inclusive and non-sectarian Syrian-led
political process, involving women and civil society, facilitated by
the United Nations, requests the Secretary-General
through his good offices and the efforts of his Special Envoy for
Syria to resume the formal negotiations between representatives of
the Syrian authorities and the opposition under the auspices of the
United Nations, based on the Geneva Communiqué of 30 June 2012
and relevant Security Council resolutions, with a view to a
lasting political settlement of the crisis, as soon as
possible, and urges the representatives of the
Syrian authorities and opposition to engage in good faith in these
negotiations,

6bis: Condemns the
reported forced displacements of the population in the Syrian Arab
Republic and the alarming impact thereof on the demography of
the country, and calls upon all parties concerned to cease
immediately all activities related to these actions, including any
activities that may constitute crimes against humanity;

7: Emphasizes the
need to ensure accountability for crimes involving violations of
international law, in particular of international humanitarian law
and international human rights law, some of which may constitute war
crimes or crimes against humanity, committed in the Syrian Arab
Republic since March 2011, through appropriate, appropriate fair
and independent investigations and prosecutions at the domestic or
international level, and stresses the need to pursue practical steps
towards this goal to ensure justice for all victims and contribute to
the prevention of future violations,

7bis:​ Urges the
Security Council to further exercise its responsibility for the
maintenance of international peace and security by
taking additional measures to address the crisis in the
Syrian Arab Republic, and in particular the devastating humanitarian
crisis, and stresses in this regard Article 11 of the United Nations
Charter,

8. Requests the
Secretary-General to report on the implementation of the present
resolution, including on the implementation of the cessation of
hostilities, in accordance with operative paragraph 2 of this
resolution, the extent to which all parties to the Syrian conflict,
in particular the Syrian authorities, are complying with their
obligations under international humanitarian law and international
human rights law, and progress towards a genuine political
transition, and to provide recommendations on ways and
means to protect civilians in Syria, within 45days of the
adoption of this resolution.